Ten Stops From San Diego To San Fran

Got a week and will to explore the Highway One Classic? Here's how to do it in ten epic stops.

1. San Diego

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Home to a thriving arts scene and emerging craft beer industry, San Diego is also a great place to catch a baseball game at Petco Park, or see giant pandas at the San Diego Zoo. Other places of note? Carnitas’ Snack Shop (the menu changes daily depending on fresh produce and other ingredients available that day), renting stand up paddle boards or kayaks at Mission Bay, and Gaslamp Quarter for after-dark fine dining.

2. Huntington Beach

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93 miles (or 150km) and an hour and a half along Highway One, you'll land in sunny Huntington Beach, a beach worthy of at least a days stop over. If surfing (or checking out surfers) isn't your bag, there's still plenty to see and do - cycling along the beach and horse riding being front runners. Huntington Pier is a must see, then wander along to Main Street for dining and some great little spots to stay the night.

3. Los Angeles

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A much shorter drive, LA is only a half hour hop from Huntington Beach - just 37 miles (or 60km) away. Trying to cram all LA has to offer into an overnighter is a challenge too far for most, so it's best to plan ahead to make sure you see the things you most want to see.

My picks? Shopping along Rodeo Drive, lunch and a stroll on Santa Monica Pier before sundowner cocktails at Sur Lounge and dinner on one of the hotel rooftop bars in downtown LA. Get into (or at least walk past) the Staples Centre if you get time.

4. Santa Barbara

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Today's drive will take just over an hour and a half, and will take you the 95 miles, or 153 kms to Santa Barbara. Home to classic Spanish architecture, this area has a sun-washed European look straight from the Riviera.

Stroll State Street for excellent shops and dining, launch a kayak from East Beach to paddle under Stearns Wharf, visit the classic Old Mission Santa Barbara, and tour the 1782 presidio for a look at original adobes like El Cuartel, the second oldest surviving building in the state.

5. Santa Ynez Valley

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A one hour drive will see you roll into Santa Ynez Valley - one of most diverse grape-growing regions in the county. As well as sampling excellent local wines (book yourself a stop over for this spot), you can also take a self-guided tour of the hit film 'Sideways' many shoot locations in Buellton, Los Alamos, and Los Olivos.

Other places of note? Sunstone Winery for its cool wine cave, sustainably grown grapes, and a spectacular limestone chateau available for overnight stays. Bonus tip: Purchase a pass from Santa Ynez Valley Wine Country Association to save on tastings at 15 participating boutique wineries.

6. Hearst Castle

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The next stretch of the drive is a longer one, clocking in around the two hour mark. Just off Highway One, you'll see Hearst Castle, the private residence of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst.

Bonus tip: make online reservations well in advance, especially during the busy summer months.

7. Big Sur

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Another one and three quarter hours down the coastal road, Big Sur is a big ticket item on the Highway One road trip - the drive itself being the draw card. The winding roads are a photographers paradise (and even the most amateur snappers are likely to nab a few decent shots.) Best photo op stops? Bixby Bridge, and McWay Falls - great for spotting endangered California condors, migrating whales and sea otters.

Campgrounds abound, as do rustic cabins at Deetjen’s and other (sometimes funky) resorts. The region’s beauty also makes it a magnet for exclusive, splurge-worthy hotels like the cliff-hugging Post Ranch Inn, or luxurious Ventana Inn and Spa.

8. Carmel by the Sea

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Less than an hour from Big Sur, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a white sanded beach stop over on the highly-recommended list for those that do the LA-San Fran drive with less time to spare. The artsy beach town is home to the Carmel Mission, one of the state’s most beautiful, and shady trails fan out from the site into lush Mission Trail Nature Preserve.

Pop in to the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium, with its psychedelic jellies and bat-ray petting tanks that showcase more than 35,000 animals and plants representing over 550 species—a large number of them California natives, including California sea otters. Insider tip: Get tickets online in advance to skip long lines.

Last but far from least, Cannery Row, made famous by Steinbeck, is chock-full of hotels, shops, and restaurants in the former fish-packing plants.

9. Santa Cruz

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Your last stop before hitting San Fran is cruisey (sorry-not-sorry) Santa Cruz. Laid back and beachy, the town is a family fave, particularly the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk which boasts arcade games, corn dogs, and a historic carousel.

Down town Santa Cruz is where the locals hunt for vintage and boho chic, or hang at the local restaurants that have a focus on organic, local ingredients.

10. San Francisco

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At last you've arrived - an hour away from Santa Cruz lies the home of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Park - along with many, many other must-see spots.

For a novel way to visit “the City by the Bay” park your car and explore by foot, bike, and unique public transportation (cable cars can take you almost everywhere.)

You can get your shop on at high-end shops and enormous Macy’s, NikeTown, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Neiman Marcus in the bustling Union Square area. Boutique-lined Maiden Lane is pedestrian only thoroughfare during the day, when cafes set up tables and chairs right in the street, and nearby Westfield Mall has even more stores.

At night, catch a show in the theater district or stroll Valencia Street in the Mission, a trendy and eclectic hotbed of restaurants and bars, and awesome late-night scoops at Bi-Rite Ice Cream.